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Did you know...
"[Albert] Einstein played the violin with some enthusiasm. He once played for Gregor Piatigorsky, the distinguished cellist, and he asked him: 'How well did I play?' Piatigorsky replied: 'You played relatively well.' "
Find this, and other interesting quotes in Robert Giddings' Musical quotes and anecdotes.
Tired of playing second fiddle because you can't get the right music?
From Suzuki beginners to Stephane Grappelli and Yehudi Menuhin hopefuls, there is plenty to inspire you in our collection of string music in the Music Collection.
The State Library Music Collection holds a large and extensive collection of string music, particularly for orchestral string instruments. Started in 1965 when the Library first opened, it encompasses the full range of styles from Paganini caprices to Sevcík studies and exercises, Bach suites, orchestral excerpts, sonatas and concertos. The collection includes music originally written for these instruments and arrangements of other works. This section of the Music Collection is dominated by works for the violin but you can use the catalogue to find scores for other stringed instruments such as the viola, violoncello and double bass, as well as for viol, viola da gamba and viola d’amour. For instruments examined through the Australian Music Examinations Board, the Library collects most works listed from Grade 4 and above. Chamber music for strings is well represented, with standard repertoire for string quartets right through to arrangements of songs by the Beatles.
The reference collection of books about music includes volumes on violin-making, biographies of famous composers and significant performers, and the history of stringed instruments.
How to Search for a Score
Use the library catalogue: http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/ to search or browse our collections. Type in the name of your instrument and let the computer do the work for you. Note that if you play the cello, you will need to use the word violoncello to search the catalogue.
If you get a large number of results, use the Limit option to narrow down your search – this will be particularly useful for prolific composers such as Bach or Mozart. See a librarian for other suggestions on how to search more effectively.
Useful subject searches for violin and string players
The Great Violinists and The Great Cellists
Both of these books by Margaret Campbell describe the lives and works of the great composers and players of the violin and cello respectively. In them, there are all of the big names of these instruments, including contemporary legends interviewed by the author, through to lesser-known composers and performers. Both publications show groups of composers and players and their influences on future players, often grouped into chapters of stylistic schools and arranged in chronological order.
Amadeus Book of the Violin: Construction, History and Music
This comprehensive volume consists of three major sections: the instrument, its history, performance, pedagogy and composition. It covers a wide range of violin topics, such as the wood used to make violins, how gut strings are made, the history of the bow, and instructional works on violin technique throughout the centuries.
The Violin and Viola: History, Structure, Techniques
Sheila Nelson is well-known in Australia for her instructional works on all bowed string instruments. She describes the history of the violin and viola, their roles in orchestras and string quartets, and virtuosi on these instruments.
Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari, 1644-1737
This comprehensive tome includes an inventory of 700 known Stradivari instruments, an index of past and present owners of ‘Strads’, and black and white photographs of over 400 instruments, each from multiple angles. The supplementary information in the first part includes a Stradivari family tree, how values of these legendary instruments are determined and short sections on identification and labels, as well as auction prices.
Violin Searches
Substantial collections of books are also held on topics relating to the violin. Aspects covered include the instrument's:
A particular strength of the collection is the expensive and substantially illustrated works on famous violin makers, such as Stradivari.
“Chamber music, especially in its purest type, the string quartet, is regarded by many music-lovers as the highest form of music.” Mason, The quartets of Beethoven, p. 3.
Making music with other string players can be lots of fun, from small chamber music groups right through to string orchestras. The Music Collection has a wide variety of music in different styles and for trios, quartets and larger chamber music ensembles right through to string orchestras. In particular, there is a large range of string quartet music from Bach to the Beatles.
Useful Subject Searches for String Ensembles
Books – String Ensembles
Many of the books about chamber music have sections relating to string ensembles, and there are works relating to the chamber music of specific composers, countries and eras. Examples include:
Guide to Chamber Music / Melvin Berger
Organised in alphabetical order by composer, this work examines the major chamber music repertoire from Mozart to Elliott Carter. The majority of works examined are for string quartet, but numerous other instrumental combinations are included as trios, quartets, quintets and sextets.
Image and Structure in Chamber Music / Donald N Ferguson
This book discusses the chamber music of the major composers in the genre (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms), as well as chapters on twentieth-century chamber music.
Chamber music / Homer Ulrich
This is a one volume history of chamber music, focussing mainly on the trio sonata, Classical Era, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms.
BBC Music Guides: Chamber Music
The Music Collection holds BBC Music Guides on the chamber music of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schoenberg, Schubert and two on Mozart. All are written by authorities in their field and although they form small books, they provide a summary of the composer’s life, and analysis of their chamber music with many musical examples.
These are just a few of the books in the Music Collection on chamber music. For more titles view the results of a subject search.
The Music Collection has a good collection of books about string quartets – the history of the string quartet, major works in the genre and also works on playing in string quartets. You might like to have a look at these:
The Art of Quartet Playing: the Guarneri Quartet in Conversation with David Blum
The highly-regarded Guarneri Quartet discuss in detail the role of each instrument, interpretation, string quartet repertoire and in-depth analysis of Beethoven’s string quartet no. 14, opus 131, from a performer’s perspective.
How to Succeed in an Ensemble: Reflections on a Life in Chamber Music / Abram Loft
The author was second violin in the renowned Fine Arts Quartet for over 25 years. Although a large part of the book is about the Fine Arts Quartet, it also includes chapters advising on how to join or start an ensemble, rehearsing, repertoire, recording and the business of being a chamber musician.
The Art of String Quartet Playing : Practice, Technique and Interpretation / Mary Dows Herter Norton
This book is all about how to play in a string quartet and is aimed at amateur string quartet players. It covers the ensemble and role of each instrument, how to rehearse, tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and colour and texture, including intonation.
Playing string quartets / Athol Page
This work has two main parts – the playing, and the quartets. In the first part, technique, interpretation, style and ensemble work are covered, and the second is about the string quartet literature, from the Classical Era to the mid-twentieth century. Quartets looking for repertoire will find this useful, as the author suggests which works are good to play and the general character of each movement.
The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet / Robin Stowell (ed)
This volume consists of essays on four major themes – the string quartet in its social context, celebrated ensembles, performing string quartets, and the second half of the work is devoted to string quartet repertoire.
The String Quartet / Paul Griffiths
This volume explores both the history of string quartets and string quartet repertoire, including a chronology of the repertoire from 1759 to 1982.
The Music Collection also holds many works analysing the quartets of major composers for the genre, such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Bartok. Many more books relating to string quartets are held in the Library.
Australian Yearbook of Music and Music Education
An invaluable resource for the whole gamut of consumers of music and music practitioners in Australia. Listing arts organisations, funding agencies, copyright and legal information, resources, publishers and distributors, educational institutions, societies, groups and eisteddfods and competitions, the yearbook can assist string players by presenting choices for all the above.
WA Music Teacher's Association's Directory of Teaching Members
Available in hard copy or online. Lists some private teachers of stringed instruments in both metropolitan and country areas. The WA Branch of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) has a directory of teachers available on request.
Strings
This monthly journal describes itself as ‘the magazine for players and makers of bowed string instruments’. Although it is an American journal, there are lots of articles of interest to those interested in bowed string instruments, although there is an emphasis on the violin and cello. Strings covers a wide range of subjects, from the new electric instruments to record sales of ‘Strads’ and tips for better practicing and auditions.
The Strad
The Strad is an English, monthly journal which will be of interest to many string players. As the name suggests, there are often profiles and scientific analysis of Stradivari’s instruments, with detailed photographs in full colour. The journal’s emphasis is on violin-making (lutherie), but there are also interviews with soloists and chamber groups, tips on technique and reviews of concerts, CDs and books.
Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards
The Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards is a competition open to classical instrumentalists under 30 years of age. For the winner in each category of keyboard, string and instrumental there is a presentation of a Young Performers Award and a cash prize. The three finalists enter the grand final and the winner becomes the Young Performer of the Year. The prize will be cash plus concert opportunities. A list of past winners, information about the competition and an application form are available from the website.
WA Music Teachers Association Recital and Concerto Competition
This annual competition is open to all musicians. Recitals are open to all ages and are grouped by grade (eg Australian Music Examinations Board grade), and concertos are judged by age. There are prizes on offer, and winners are invited to perfom at the annual Winners Night.
West Australian Eisteddfod Societies
Lists the contact details for local music eisteddfods and competitions.
WA Branch of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA)
Has a search for a string teacher option on their website. It also provides local information and resources for West Australian string players and teachers. The parent organisation AUSTA has a very useful website with lots of information for players of orchestral string instruments at all levels.
Orchestras in Perth
The State Library’s Infolink database contains contact details and information about West Australian community music groups, including orchestras and string ensembles. Use this list to find the right group for you!
WA Youth Music Association (WAYMA)
WAYMA runs a wide range of programs for young musicians and choisters, including the WA Youth Orchestra and string orchestras. Entry is by audition, and these take place around October-November each year.
Suzuki Talent Education Association Australia
The Suzuki Method, developed by Dr Shinichi Suzuki, is a popular way to start young children on a musical instrument, including violin and cello.
Catgut Acoustical Society
This site brings together researchers in musical acoustics, violin makers, composers, string players and lovers of the music they make.
All Things Strings
This is the web site for Strings magazine.
The Strad
Another website for a string magazine - The Strad.
The Violin Site
Includes information on all things violin, including history of the instrument, practice aids, violin music and famous violinists.
Violin Online
This site is aimed at amateur violinists, and includes online technical exercises, an online music store, information on the instrument and music basics. Similar sites have been written for the viola and cello.
The Viola Web Site
This site is a portal for viola players, including articles on the viola, famous violists, music for the viola and viola events. There is also an affiliated viola email list.
The Cello Site
This is the cello version of The Violin Site listed above, and in some areas links to Violin Site pages.
Bassworks Australia
This Australian site includes information on double bass workshops, bass buying information, and student and teacher resources.
Australian Viola da Gamba Society
Includes Society activites and publications, history of the viola da gamba, and Australian makers and teachers of viols.
Musica Viva Australia
This society presents chamber music concerts around Australia, including a subscription season in Perth.
Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO)
On it’s European tour in May, 1999, The Times, London, declared: ‘This must be the best chamber orchestra on Earth.’ The ACO also has a Perth subscription season each year.
MusicAustralia
Is a project developed by the National Library of Australia in conjunction with the National Sound and Film Archive. WA Musical Memories Online gives access to digitised scores held at the State Library of Western Australia. Most of the scores are for voice and piano, but do give an insight into the West Australian events and places that inspired composers to put pen to manuscript paper throughout the years.
Sheet Music Consortium
The Sheet Music Consortium is a US based group of libraries that is building a digitised archive of sheet music in libraries around the world. Try browsing on the name of your instrument to find new repertoire.